Modular print bar assembly for an inkjet printer

Abstract

A modular printhead assembly facilitates the manufacture of printers with print zones of differing widths. The printhead assembly includes a pair of end pieces and a plurality of rods that extend between the end pieces in parallel. The rods pass through holes in lugs extending from carriers configured for the mounting of printheads. Plates are interposed between the printheads and the carriers to enable actuators to move the plates and printheads within the perimeters of the carriers to adjust the stitch and roll alignments of the printheads.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A printer comprising:
 a media transport configured to move media through the printer to form an ink image on the media; 
 a first member having three linearly arranged receptacles; 
 a second member having three linearly arranged receptacles; 
 a first rod, a second rod, and a third rod, each rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of each rod being positioned within one of the receptacles in the first member in a one-to-one correspondence and the second end of each rod being positioned within one of the receptacles in the second member in a one-to-one correspondence to enable the first, the second, and the third rods to extend parallel to one another from the first member to the second member; 
 a first frame having a perimeter, a pair of flanges extending from a first side of the first frame and a third flange extending from a second side of the first frame, the second side of the first frame being opposite the first side of the first frame, each flange extending from the first frame having a hole in the flange, the first rod passing through the holes in the pair of flanges of the first frame and the second rod passing through the hole in the third flange of the first frame; 
 a second frame having a perimeter, a pair of flanges extending from a first side of the second frame and a third flange extending from a second side of the second frame, the second side of the second frame being opposite the first side of the second frame, each flange extending from the second frame having a hole in the flange, the third rod passing through the hole in the third flange of the second frame and the second rod passing through the holes in the pair of flanges of the second frame; 
 a first printhead mounted within the first frame; 
 a second printhead mounted within the second frame; and 
 a controller operatively connected to the first printhead and the second printhead, the controller being configured to operate the first printhead and the second printhead to form the ink image for the media. 
 
     
     
       2. The printer of  claim 1  wherein the third flange extending from the first frame is adjacent to one flange in the pair of the flanges extending from the second frame to offset inkjets in the first printhead from inkjets in the second printhead by a distance that is less than a distance between the inkjets in the first printhead. 
     
     
       3. The printer of  claim 1  wherein the third flange extending from the first frame is equidistant from each flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame to align inkjets in the first printhead with inkjets in the second printhead. 
     
     
       4. The printer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slotted bushing in each hole in each flange of the first frame and the second frame. 
 
     
     
       5. The printer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first plate having an opening, the first printhead being mounted in the opening of the first plate and the first plate being mounted within the perimeter of the first frame; and 
 a second plate having an opening, the second printhead being mounted in the opening of the second plate and the second plate being mounted within the perimeter of the second frame. 
 
     
     
       6. The printer of  claim 5 , each frame further comprising:
 a plurality of steel pads; and 
 each plate further comprising: 
 a plurality of threaded members that extend through the plate to engage the plurality of steel pads of the frame in which the plate is positioned in a one-to-one correspondence, the screws being configured to enable the plate to be leveled with reference to the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       7. The printer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first biasing member configured to attach to the first plate and to attach to the first frame to bias the first plate into the perimeter of the first frame; and 
 a second biasing member configured to attach to the second plate and to attach to the second frame to bias the second plate into the perimeter of the second frame. 
 
     
     
       8. The printer of  claim 7 , each of first frame and the second frame further comprising:
 a biasing member positioned between the frame and a portion of the plate positioned within the perimeter of the frame to urge the plate away from the frame in a direction parallel to the perimeter of the frame; and 
 an actuator that is configured to act on the portion of the plate in a direction opposite to the biasing member, but still parallel to the perimeter of the frame to enable the plate to move within a plane parallel to the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       9. The printer of  claim 7 , each frame further comprising:
 a pivoting member positioned to rotate about a pivot and engage a portion of the plate positioned within the perimeter of the frame; and 
 an actuator that is configured to act on the pivoting member to apply a rotational force to the pivoting member and the portion of the plate within the perimeter of the frame to rotate the plate within a plane parallel to the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       10. The print bar assembly of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a link operatively connected between the third flange extending from the first frame to one flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame, the one flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame being the one flange most distance from the third flange extending from the first frame. 
 
     
     
       11. A print bar assembly comprising:
 a first member having three linearly arranged receptacles; 
 a first actuator mounted to the first member between two of the linearly arranged receptacles and a second actuator mounted to the first member between two of the linearly arranged receptacles, the first actuator and the second actuator not being mounted between the same two linearly arranged receptacles; 
 a second member having three linearly arranged receptacles; 
 a first rod, a second rod, and a third rod, each rod having a first end and a second end, the first end of each rod being detachably positioned within one of the receptacles in the first member in a one-to-one correspondence and the second end of each rod being detachably positioned within one of the receptacles in the second member in a one-to-one correspondence to enable the first, the second, and the third rods to extend parallel to one another from the first member to the second member; 
 a first frame having a perimeter, a pair of flanges extending from a first side of the first frame and a third flange extending from a second side of the first frame, the second side of the first frame being opposite the first side of the first frame, each flange extending from the first frame having a hole in the flange, the first rod passing through the holes in the pair of flanges of the first frame and the second rod passing through the hole in the third flange of the first frame; 
 a second frame having a perimeter, a pair of flanges extending from a first side of the second frame and a third flange extending from a second side of the second frame, the second side of the second frame being opposite the first side of the second frame, each flange extending from the second frame having a hole in the flange, the third rod passing through the hole in the third flange of the second frame and the second rod passing through the holes in the pair of flanges of the second frame. 
 
     
     
       12. The print bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein the third flange extending from the first frame is adjacent to one flange in the pair of the flanges extending from the second frame. 
     
     
       13. The print bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein the third flange extending from the first frame is equidistant from each flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame. 
     
     
       14. The print bar assembly of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a slotted bushing in each hole in each flange of the first frame and the second frame. 
 
     
     
       15. The print bar assembly of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a plate having an opening in the plate, the opening being configured to receive a printhead, the plate being configured to fit within the perimeter of the first frame or the perimeter of the second frame. 
 
     
     
       16. The print bar assembly of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a biasing member configured to attach to the plate and to attach to the first frame or the second frame in which the plate is positioned to bias the plate into the perimeter of that frame. 
 
     
     
       17. The print bar assembly of  claim 16 , each frame further comprising:
 a biasing member positioned between the frame and a portion of the plate positioned within the frame to urge the plate away from the frame in a direction parallel to the perimeter of the frame; and 
 an actuator that is configured to act on the portion of the plate positioned within the frame in a direction opposite to the biasing member, but still parallel to the perimeter of the frame to enable the plate to move within the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       18. The print bar assembly of  claim 16 , each frame further comprising:
 a plurality of steel pads; and 
 the plate further comprising: 
 a plurality of threaded members that extend through the plate to engage the plurality of steel pads of the frame in which the plate is positioned in a one-to-one correspondence, the screws being configured to enable the plate to be leveled with reference to the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       19. The print bar assembly of  claim 16 , each frame further comprising:
 a pivoting member positioned to rotate about a pivot and engage a portion of the plate positioned within the perimeter of the frame; and 
 an actuator that is configured to act on the pivoting member to apply a rotational force to the pivoting member and the portion of the plate positioned within the frame to rotate the plate within a plane parallel to the perimeter of the frame in which the plate is positioned. 
 
     
     
       20. The print bar assembly of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a link operatively connected between the third flange extending from the first frame to one flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame, the one flange in the pair of flanges extending from the second frame being the one flange most distance from the third flange extending from the first frame.